Arts, Briefly; Bad Toe Stops Maazel

By DANIEL J. WAKIN; Compiled by Lawrence Van Gelder

Published: August 12, 2005

Unexpected toe surgery has forced Lorin Maazel to cancel six concerts this month with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. ''It is not a major thing,'' said Eric Latzky, the spokesman for the New York Philharmonic, where Mr. Maazel, above, is music director. ''It involves his toe. I honestly don't know more than that.'' Mr. Latzky said that the conductor showed no signs of discomfort late last month during the orchestra's residency in Vail, Colo., and that he was expected to join the Philharmonic on Sept. 1 in Frankfurt for the start of a European tour. He was to have conducted the Sydney Symphony on Thursday, next Friday and Aug. 20, 24, 26 and 27. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Tugan Sokhiev and Yannick Nezet-Seguin would replace Mr. Maazel. DANIEL J. WAKIN